Machine for making open boxes



Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June18, 1938 '7 Sheets-Sheet l 5 mw m T40 m5. m Vl on@ m Hm WLM Jan. 14,1941.` H. B. THoMPscN MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1938'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR #5A/Hr T60/14H50 BY )VK Nava;

JQ 4 f( ATTOR Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPENBOXES Filed June 18, 1958 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN-ron `#5A/Ry THe/11,050

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7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. rTHOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPENBOXES Filed June 18, 1958 INVENTOR M/w27 ATTORNEYS '7 Sheets-Sheet 5Jan. 14, 1941. H. B. THOMPSON MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June1a, 193s Jall- 14, 1941- H. B. THOMPSON 2,228,932

MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1958 "7 Sheets-Sheet 6/0'61 INVENTOR HFA/RJ 5. THMPSO/V Mmm Jan' 14, 1941 1H. B. THOMPSON2,228,932

I MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Filed June 18, 1938 7 Sheets-Sheet 7f/////// Z u n lNvENToR MEA/Hy 5. WMM/50N ToNEYsz Patented Jan. 14, 1941PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR MAKING OPEN BOXES Henry B. Thompson,Jenkintown, Pa., assgnor to Peter Paul, Inc., Naugatuck, Conn., acorporation of Delaware Application June 18, 1938, Serial No. 214,470

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for making or forming open boxes orreceptacles.

More specifically stated, the invention relates to an automatic machinefor folding blanks into open receptacles or boxes.

The invention has for its salient object to provide a simple, practicaland etlicient machine for forming open boxes or receptacles from blanks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed having relatively few parts that can be economicallymanufactured.

Another object of theinvention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed so constructed and arranged that it can be easily and quicklyadapted for making boxes of different sizes and dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, simplified blank folding and box forming mechamsm.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part ofthis application, and in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a machineconstructed in accordance with the invention, the blank and supportingmechanism being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. l, this viewbeing taken at right angles to Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation through r the blank supportingand feeding mechanism and the forming plate for forming the blanks intoboxes or receptacles;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig4;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 1--1 of Fig.4;

Fig. 8 is` a perspective view of the forming block or plate which formsthe blanks into receptacles as they are pushed downwardly therethrough;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the forming block;

Fig. l0 is an end elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on lineII-ll of Fig. 9;

Fig. 12 is an exploded view of the parts which comprise the formingblock;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken substantially online |3-I3 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a portion of the receptacle chain,illustrating the various positions of movement in which the folding ofthe 5 receptacles is completed, the receptacles are filled and thefilled receptacles are discharged;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional elevation of the mechanism for completingthe folding of the receptacle. 10

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the box or receptacle as it isdischarged from the forming block to the feed chain mechanism;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the completed box; and 1.5

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the loaded receptacle.

The invention comprises a plurality of mechanisms including means forfeeding blanks, means for forcing the blanks through a form- 20 ingblock or plate by which the blank is folded into an open receptacle orbox, and means foi` completing the folding of the end aps.

The blank feeding mechanism is so constructed and arranged that thevarious parts may be adjusted to provide for the feeding of blanks ofdifferent sizes and dimensions.

The forming plate or block through which the blanks are pressed and bywhich the blank is folded into an open receptacle has its various partsso relatively constructed and arranged that the side flaps and end tabswill be folded upwardly and inwardly and the end flaps will be foldedupwardly and over the upper ends of the end tabs in one operation. Theblank thus folded or the receptacle thus formed then moves to anotherposition in the position of movement of the receptacle feeding chain, inwhich latter position mechanism is provided for completing `the foldingof the end flaps into their 4o nal position within the receptacle.V

Further details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the frame of the machinehas a bed plate 25 45 which is provided with downwardly extendingflanges 26, 26 and 21, 21.

Main driving connectgns The main driving shaft 28 is mounted in the 50having a pin or roller 3| at the outer end thereof adapted to enter andcoact with notches 92 in a Geneva wheel 33 mounted on a. shaft 34supported in the flanges 21, 21 and disposed paralle] to the shaft 28.

The shaft 34 has also mounted thereon worm wheels 35 and 36 which meshwith worm wheels 31 and 38 mounted on vertical shafts 39. Shafts 39 havesecured to the upper ends thereof sprocket wheels 40 and 4| which drivefeed chains 42 and 43 which feed the receptacles through the machine andoperate in a manner hereinafter set forth.

'I'he shaft 28 has also mounted thereon a sprocket wheel 45 which isconnected by a sprocket chain 46 to drive a sprocket wheel 41 mounted ona shaft 48 which in turn is mounted in one of the flanges 21. l

The shaft 48 is connected to drive a shaft 49 through bevel gears 50 and5| carried respectively by the shafts 48 and 49. The shaft 49 is mountedin brackets 52 carried by one of the flanges 21. Shaft 49 has alsosecured thereto a sprocket wheel 53 which is utilized in a mannerhereinafter described to drive the blank feeding mechanism.

Blank supporting and feeding mechanism I'he blank supporting and feedingmechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. 3-7 inclusive. The blanksX are supported on a plate 55 which is slidably mounted on rollers 56and is reciprocatable to feed the blanks one at a time to a pair ofcoacting feed rollers 51 and 58.

The blanks X, as shown particularly in Fig. 5, are supported betweenvertical posts 60, 60 and 6|, 6|. The posts 6| are adjustably mounted bymeans of slots 62, 62 and pins 63, 63, the slots being formed in wallsor vertical plates 64 mounted on a bracket 19 secured to the bed plate25. The posts 60 are also secured to the walls or plates 64. Byproviding for the adjustment of the posts 6|, 6| with reference to theposts 60, 60, provision is made for supporting and holding blanks ofdifferent lengths. If desired, the posts may also be made adjustablelaterally to provide for different widths of blanks.

The bottom blank of the pile of blanks is fed forward on each forwardmovement of the blank supporting plate 55 in the following manner: Thesupporting plate is slidably mounted between the vertical walls or plate64, as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7. The plate 55 has formedtherein downwardly extending recesses 65 and 66, in which are mountedadjustable blocks 61 and 68. Each block is carried by a pin 69 and canbe tilted by adjustment of set screws 10 and 1|. After the blocks 61 and68 have been adjusted to feed a blank of any required thickness, nofurther adjustment is needed until a blank having a different thicknessis to be fed.

The blocks 61 and 68 engage at their front edges the rear edge of thelower blank when the plate 55 has been retracted to its extreme positionand moves forwardly on its feeding movement.

The posts 60 can be vertically adjusted by means of the pin and slotconnection 12 and 13 shown in Fig. 4, so that the bottoms of these postswill be spaced from the upper surface of the plate 55 a sufficientdistance to permit the passage of a blank.

The reciprocation of the feeding and supporting plate 55 is accomplishedin the following manner: The plate 55 has secured to the upper surfacethereof near the rear end of the plate a block 15 having a vertical anddownwardly extending notch or recess 18 therein.

A shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in blocks 18 slidably mounted in walls64 which in turn are mounted on the bed plate 25 and the bracket 19. Theshaft 11 has mounted thereon a sprocket wheel which is driven by a chain8| from the sprocket wheel 53 carried by the shaft 49.

The shaft 11 has also mounted thereon an eccentric 82 which is disposedin an eccentric box or yoke 83 which forms a part of a lever 84 mountedon a pivot 85. The blocks 18 are vertically'adjustable by means of bolts86 and are locked in adjusted position by lock nuts 81. It will beobvious that as the blocks 18, shaft 11 and eccentric 82 are verticallyadjusted by raising or lowering the blocks 18. that the movement of thelever 84 by the eccentric 82 will be varied. thus a variable throw isprovided to take care of different lengths of blanks.

The eccentric yoke or box 83 has threaded to its lower end thereof apost 88 having a ball 89 at the bottom thereof disposed in the recess 16of the block 15. This threaded post 88 provides a micrometer adjustmentfor the throw of the blank feeding mechanism.

From the showing in Figs. 16 and 17 and also from the showing in Fig. 5,it will be seen that the blank X comprises a central or body portion A,side flaps B and C which are hinged to the body portion, each of theside flaps paying disposed at itsends end tabs D and E. f g

There are also connected to the central or body portion A, end flaps Fand G, the end naps being divided into sections 90, 9| and 92. Thesections 92 project laterally from the main body portion of the flaps Fand G or are flared, as shown at 93.

When the blanks are supported for feeding movement the end tabs D and Eare disposed between the vertically extending posts 60 and 6|.Furthermore, the end flaps F and G extend rearwardly between the posts6|, 6| and forwardly between the posts 60, 60.

As the blanks are fed forwardly one at a time, the front end of the fedblank will be engaged by the pair of feed rollers 51 and 58 mounted onshafts 91 and 98. A shaft 99 has secured thereto a sprocket wheel 99which is driven by the chain 8| which also drives the sprocket wheel 80.

The shaft 99 also has secured thereto a gear |00 which meshes with agear |0| on the shaft 91 and drives the roller 51. Gear |0| also drivesa gear 98 mounted on the shaft 98 and thus drives feed roll 58.

Blank folding or bor forming mechanism The forming plate or blockthrough which the blanks are fed downwardly to the box feeding chain isillustrated particularly in Figs. 8-13 inclusive. The block comprises apair of body members or side members |05 and |06 which are connected attheir ends by end body members |01 and |08. The inner walls of themembers |05 and |06 are beveled or inclined, as shown at |09, and theend walls |01 and |08 are also beveled or inclined, as shownparticularly in Fig. 13 at H0.

The members |05 and |06 have secured to the upper surfaces thereofplates and ||2 and have also secured above the plates and ||2 members||3 and ||4 having horizontal flanges or overhanging portions ||5 and||6 which form grooves ||1 and I| 8 above the plates and ||2.

As the blanks are fed forwardly by the feed rollers 51 and 58, thelateral edge portions move into the grooves ||1 and ||8 of the formingblocks. The ends of the flanges ||5 and ||6 which receive the blanks arecurved or flared, as shown at |8, and are also curved downwardly, asshown at |20 in Fig. 10.

The end body portion |08 has mounted on the upper surface thereof a pairof blocks I2| and |22 which are pivoted on the member |08 and are heldin adjusted position by screws |23. 'Ihe inner ends |24 of the blocks|2| and |22 are so adjusted as to engage the front edges of the fronttabs E, E when the blanks are fed by the feed rolls 51 and 58 into thegrooves ||1 and ||8 of the forming blocks.

The lower ends of the side members |05 and |06 of the forming blocks arenotched, as shown at |25, to permit the downward passage of the blanksand not interfere with the passage oi' the flared ends of the end iiapsF and G. When the blanks are positioned on the forming plate or blockfor downward movement therethrough and through the opening |26, the endtabs E, E are disposed on ledges |21, |21 and the end tabs D, D aredisposed on ledges |28, |28. When the blank is so positioned the centralportion A thereof is engaged by a plunger |30, (see Fig. 4), and thedownward movement of the plunger causes the end tabs D and E to foldupwardly and causes the side flaps B and C to also fold upwardly.Furthermore, the end flaps F and G will be folded upwardly by engagementwith the inclined surfaces ||0, ||0. 'I'he notches |25 will permit thedownward passage therethrough of the flared ends of the end flaps F andG.

When the blank has been forced downwardly through the central opening|26 in the forming block, the blank will be folded to theposition shownin Fig. 16.

The plunger |30 which feeds the blanks downwardly into the receptaclefeeding chain is carried by a vertically slidable rod |3| which isslidably mounted in a bracket |32 carried by a vertical frame |33. Theupper end of the rod |3| is connected by a link |34 to an arm |35 whichis carried by a shaft |36 mounted to'oscillate in the frame |33. Theshaft |36 also has mounted thereon a gear |31 which meshes with a gear|38 carried by a shaft |38 also rotatablycured on the lower end thereofan eccentric yoke |42 in which is positioned an eccentric |43 mounted onthe shaft 28. As the eccentric rotates the yoke and link |4| will beactuated thereby, thus oscillating the arm |40,`shaft |36 and gears |38and |31. As the gear |31 is oscillated the shaft |36 will also beoscillated, thus actuating the arm |35 to raise and lower the plunger|30.

The shaft |38 has also secured thereto an arm |45 which is connected bya link |46 to a cross head or bar |41. 'I'he bar |41 has secured theretoand extending downwardly therefrom three vertical posts |48, |48 and|50, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Receptacle feeding chain i This construction is lparticularlyillustrated in Fig. 14 and the driving connections therefor are shown inFig. 2.

The feeding chains 42 and 43, as above stated,

are driven by sprocket wheels 40 and 4I mounted on the shafts 38, 88.These chains are guided into parallel relation with each other aroundidler sprocket wheels and |56 which are adjustably mounted in the slots|51 in the bed plate 25. The chains are guided at the other ends oftheir parallel paths of movement by means of idler sprocket wheels |58,|58 slidably mounted or adjustably mounted in slots |58.

From the sprocket wheels |58, |58 the chains pass around a pair of idlersprocket wheels |60, |60 also adjustably mounted in slots 16|. From thesprocket wheels |60, |60 the chains pass on the return lap to thesprocket wheels 40, 4|.

Each of the chains 42, 43 has secured to its links a plurality of blocks|63 and each block has a plate or web |84 formed thereon. The blocks andwebs are so relatively located on the two chains that a web |64 on onechain will be disposed opposite a web |64 on the other chain and the twoadjacent webs on one chain will form with the two adjacent webs on theother chain a rectangular enclosure or pocket for receiving the foldedreceptacles, as shown in Fig. 14.

Thus, when the blanks are forced downwardly 2 through the forming blockthey will pass into successive enclosures or rectangular receiving andguiding portions of the feeding chains.

The adjustments for the various idler sprocket wheels above describedare provided for the purpose of changing the spacing of the chainsrelative to each other so as to receive receptacles of differentlengths.

It will be understood that the chains 42 and 43, as they move aroundtheir paths, are disposed with their webs |64 disposed adjacent theupper surface of the bed plate of the machine so that the receptacleswill be pressed downwardly into the feeding chains and will be supportedby the bed plate during the feeding movement thereof.

End flap folding 'mechanism The completion of the folding of the endflaps is accomplished in the following manner: As shown particularly inFigs. 14`and 15. a pair of plates |65 and |66 is mounted above theparallel laps of the chains 42 and 43, these plates having inclinededges |61 at the entering ends thereof.

When the receptacle has been formed by the passage of a blank throughthe forming block r and has been pressed into one of the chamberreceiving closures, as shown at Y in Fig. 14, the end flaps will bedisposed in the position shown.

The feeding chains operate intermittently by reason of the feed derivedfrom the Geneva wheel and as the chain advances the end flaps F and Gwill be engaged by the inclined edges |61 of the plates |65 and |66 andwill pass beneath the plates in the manner shown particularly in Fig.15.

When the feeding chains have advanced the receptacles to the positionshown at R in Fig. 14, the posts |50 will be depressed and the ends |10and |1| of a yoke |12 carried by the lower end of the post or rod |50will engage the end flaps F and G and will press them downwardly so thatthe end flaps will engage the inner surfaces of the folded tabs D and Eand will form the inner end walls of the receptacle. Furthermore, thelower ends of the yoke ends |10 and |1| will cause the end sections 82,82 to be folded at right angles to the sections 8|, 8| and against thebottom of the receptacles.

The flared ends or projections 83 on the lateral edges of the flaps Fand G will frictionally engage the inner surfaces of the side walls ofthe receptacle and will thus hold the end flaps in folded condition.

In order to provide a slight friction on the loaded receptacle after itreaches the position T and to prevent its dropping by gravity into thedischarge chute, a spring pressed plunger 200 is slidably mounted in aguideway 20| and is resiliently actuated by a spring 202 to engage thefront wall of the loaded receptacle disposed at the position T. Thespring 202 can be adjusted to any desired tension by an adjustment shownat 203.

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that simple, practicaland eicient automatic mechanism has been provided for feeding theblanks, folding the blanks into open receptacles, and completing thefolding of the end tabs.

Furthermore, in the mechanism above described, provision has been madefor adjustment so that blanks of different sizes can be handled.Moreover, particular attention is called to the fact that the blanks fedto the forming block are folded into open receptacles by one operation,thus eliminating the usual complicated folding arms and foldingmechanism used to form the several folds necessary to fold the blanksinto the receptacles.

f `ithough one specific embodiment of the invention has beenparticularly shown and described, it will be understood thattheinvention is capable of modification and that changes in theconstruction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts maybe made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, asexpressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ina machine for folding blanks having a central bottom formingportion, end flaps at the ends of said portion, side flaps at the sidesof said portion and end tabs at the ends of said side flaps, a formingblock having an opening for receiving said central portion andstationary folding forms surrounding said opening and so disposed as tosuccessively fold the end tabs upwardly, fold the side flaps up at rightangles to the central bottom portion and the end tabs inwardly and tofold the end flaps upwardly at right angles to the bottom portion toform receptacles open at the top and outside the end tabs.l and meansfor feeding the blanks, one at a time through said block opening.

2. In a machine for folding blanks having a central bottom formingportion, end flaps at the ends of said portion, side flaps at the sidesof said portion and end tabs at the ends of said side flaps, a formingblock having an opening for receiving said central portion andstationary folding forms surrounding said opening and so disposed as tosuccessively fold the end tabs upwardly, fold the side flaps up at rightangles to the central bottom portion and the end flaps upwardly at rightangles to the bottom portion to form receptacles open at the top andoutside the end tabs, means for feeding the blanks, one at a timethrough said block opening, receptacle feeding mechanism includingpockets for receiving and feeding the receptacles, means above the pathof movement of the receptacles for folding the end fiapsinwardly abovethe receptacles, and means above the path of movement of the receptaclesfor forcing the end flaps downwardly into the receptacles and inside theend tabs.

3. In a machine for folding blanks having a central body portion, endflaps on the body portion, side flaps and end tabs on the side flapsinto open receptacles, a forming block having fixed portions soconstructed and arranged as to successively cause the side flaps to foldupwardly, the end tabs to fold upwardly and inwardly and the ends flapsto fold up outside the end tabs when the blank is forced downwardlythrough the block, receptacle feeding mechanism including pockets forreceiving and feeding the receptacles, means above the path of movementof the receptacles for folding the end flaps inwardly above thereceptacles, and means above the path of movement of the receptacles forforcing the end flaps downwardly into the receptacles and inside the endtabs.

4. In a machine for folding blanks having a central body portion, endflaps on the central portion, side flaps and end tabs on the side flapsinto open receptacles, a forming block having a central opening toreceive said blank body portion, inclined surfaces at the ends of saidopening to receive and fold the end flaps, inclined surfaces at thesides of the opening to receive and fold the side flaps, ledges at thesides of the end inclined surfaces for supporting the end tabs andcausing the end tabs to be folded upwardly and inwardly as the blank isforced downwardly and before the end flaps are folded, whereby the endflaps are disposed outside the end tabs inthe open ended receptacle,means for feeding blanks and means for engaging the blanks from aboveand forcing the blanks through the forming block,

HENRY B. THOMPSON.

